High+Hopes+-+Studio+Sessions

include component="page" page="content_legendott" editable="1" wrap="1" code Commercially Released: January 14, 2014 Produced by: Bruce Springsteen, Brendan O'Brien and Ron Aniello Recording Engineers: Nick DiDia, Ross Petersen and Toby Scott Recorded at: A total of sixteen studios were used, see below for full list code

Part One - High Hopes Session Overview

The //High Hopes// story begins on December 9, 2012. Springsteen called producer Ron Aniello to say that he had some songs that he wanted Aniello to work on. He presented him with a collection of demos, older songs, saying "We're gonna get these in shape and see what we've got." However, Springsteen was currently halfway through the Wrecking Ball Tour, which meant convening for sessions was difficult, if not impossible to achieve. As such, much of the recording work was undertaken by Aniello in Los Angeles and New York, E Street sessions in Australia in March 2013 and also band members adding parts individually at recording studios around the country. Most of the demos appear to be from the 2002-2008 period, and those recordings form the basis of the final result found on the album. According to Aniello, a total of twenty songs were recorded during this period, so eight were cut, including some of Aniello's favourites. Four of these rejected tracks (three mentioned by Aniello, plus "Hurry Up Sundown") were later released on the //American Beauty// EP for Record Store Day on April 19, 2014. The fourth song title revealed by Aniello, "Cold Spot", remains unreleased.

"//High Hopes// finds Bruce Springsteen in a number of different musical settings, and includes the E Street Band members in various large and small combinations as well as guitarist Tom Morello on eight tracks. Besides Morello, the album also includes appearances on several songs by Clarence Clemons, who passed away in 2011, and Danny Federici, who passed away in 2008, on what Springsteen calls "some of our best unreleased material from the past decade." The album was recorded in New Jersey, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Australia and New York City and marks Springsteen's 18th studio album. As Bruce writes in the albums liner notes, "I felt they were among the best of my writing and deserved a proper studio recording."
 * Press release information**

I was working on a record of some of our best unreleased material from the past decade when Tom Morello (sitting in for Steve during the Australian leg of our tour) suggested we ought to add "High Hopes" to our live set. I had cut "High Hopes," a song by Tim Scott McConnell of the LA based Havalinas, in the 90's. We worked it up in our Aussie rehearsals and Tom then proceeded to burn the house down with it. We re-cut it mid tour at Studios 301 in Sydney along with "Just Like Fire Would," a song from one of my favorite early Australian punk bands, The Saints (check out "I'm Stranded"). Tom and his guitar became my muse, pushing the rest of this project to another level. Thanks for the inspiration Tom.
 * Bruce Springsteen's 'High Hopes' Liner Notes**

Some of these songs, "American Skin" and "Ghost of Tom Joad," you'll be familiar with from our live versions. I felt they were among the best of my writing and deserved a proper studio recording. "The Wall" is something I'd played on stage a few times and remains very close to my heart. The title and idea were Joe Grushecky's, then the song appeared after Patti and I made a visit to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington. It was inspired by my memories of Walter Cichon. Walter was one of the great early Jersey Shore rockers, who along with his brother Ray (one of my early guitar mentors) led the "Motifs". The Motifs were a local rock band who were always a head above everybody else. Raw, sexy and rebellious, they were the heroes you aspired to be. But these were heroes you could touch, speak to, and go to with your musical inquiries. Cool, but always accessible, they were an inspiration to me, and many young working musicians in 1960's central New Jersey. Though my character in "The Wall" is a Marine, Walter was actually in the Army, A Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Infantry. He was the first person I ever stood in the presence of who was filled with the mystique of the true rock star. Walter went missing in action in Vietnam in March 1968. He still performs somewhat regularly in my mind, the way he stood, dressed, held the tambourine, the casual cool, the freeness. The man who by his attitude, his walk said "you can defy all this, all of what's here, all of what you've been taught, taught to fear, to love and you'll still be alright." His was a terrible loss to us, his loved ones and the local music scene. I still miss him.

This is music I always felt needed to be released. From the gangsters of "Harry's Place," the ill-prepared roomies on "Frankie Fell In Love" (shades of Steve and I bumming together in our Asbury Park apartment) the travelers in the wasteland of "Hunter Of Invisible Game," to the soldier and his visiting friend in "The Wall", I felt they all deserved a home and a hearing. Hope you enjoy it,

American Beauty is a collection of songs I cut at home. Upon revisiting them for High Hopes I recognized their potential and Ron Aniello and I worked on them until we’d turned them into the music before you. In the song “American Beauty,” I get to sing in a part of my range I don’t often visit and that along with its ‘guitar wall of sound’ gives it a little ‘exile on E Street’ power. “Mary Mary” is a lovely mystery, a small piece of heartbreak poetry that sneaks up on you with its slippery grove, punctuated string section and spectral lyrics. It came closest to making the High Hopes cut. “Hurry Up Sundown” is a fun piece of modern power pop, while “Hey Blue Eyes” rounds out the EP with one of my darkest political songs. Written during the Bush years, it’s a metaphor for the house of horrors our government’s actions created in the years following the invasion of Iraq. At its center is the repressed sexuality and abuse of power that characterized Abu Ghraib prison. I feel this is a shadow we as a country have yet to emerge from.
 * Bruce Springsteen's 'American Beauty' Notes**

Part Two - High Hopes Sessions Details

Notes: Written by Tim Scott McConnell. First recorded by Springsteen in January 1995 during the sessions for 1995's //Greatest Hits// and released on the //Blood Brothers// EP. Re-recorded at Sydney's Studios 301 in March 2013 in Australia with the extended E Street Band during the Australian leg of the Wrecking Ball Tour. The first single from //High Hopes//, released November 25, 2013. Produced by Springsteen and Ron Aniello. Musician credits are Springsteen on vocals, guitar, vibraphone and percussion. Roy Bittan on piano, Nils Lofgren on guitar, Patti Scialifa on backing vocals, Garry Tallent on bass, Max Weinberg on drums, Tom Morello on guitar, Charlie Giordano on accordian, Soozie Tyrell on backing vocals, drum loop by Ron Aniello, Everett Bradley on percussion and backing vocals. Horn section is Barry Daniellian, Clark Gayton, Stan Harrison, Ed Manion and Curt Ramm. Curtis King, Cindy Mizelle and Michelle Moore provide backing vocals. Notes: The background of this song is somewhat confusing. First identified in 2002 during an interview with Ted Koppel when Springsteen read out the lyrics to the first verse from his lyric book. Bruce has since commented that only the lyrics were written during sessions for //The Rising// (although he has also stated that the band attempted to record the song at sessions //prior// to //The Rising//, perhaps in the late 90s), and the music dates from the mid-2000s, probably from the //Magic// sessions in 2007. Bruce has said that it almost made //Magic//, but was left off because he wanted twelve songs on the album rather than thirteen. Screen captures of the lyric book show that only the first verse dates from 2002, the rest appears to have been re-written in the intervening years. Features Clarence Clemons on tenor saxophone and Tom Morello. Produced by Brendan O'Brien. Other musician credits: Springsteen on vocals and guitar, Roy Bittan on piano, Nils Lofgren on guitar, Garry Tallent on bass, Max Weinberg on drums. Atlanta Strings: Ed Horst provides the string arrangement and conducts. Violins by Justin Bruns, Jay Christy, Sheela Iyengar, John Meisner, Christopher Pulgram, William Pu, Olga Shpitko and Kenn Wagner. Violas by Amy Chang, Tania Maxwell, Lachlan McBane. Cellos by Karen Freer, Charae Krueger and Daniel Laufer. Notes: Written in 2000 in response to the New York City police fatal shooting (with 41 shots) of the unarmed Bronx resident Amadou Diallo in February 1999. Originally recorded in the studio in March 2001 and released only as a radio promotional CD-R. Re-recorded for //High Hopes// and features Tom Morello. Produced by Ron Aniello and Springsteen. Musician credits: Springsteen on vocals, guitar and percussion, Roy Bittan on piano. Steve Van Zandt on guitar and backing vocals, Max Weinberg on drums, Tom Morello on lead guitar and backing vocals, Charlie Giordano on organ, Ron Aniello provides bass, synths, guitar, drum loop, percussion, organ and vibraphone. Horn section: Jake Clemons (tenor sax solo), Barry Danielian, Clark Gayton, Stan Harrison, Ed Manion and Curt Ramm. Horn orchestration by Scott Tibbs. Nils Lofgren, Patti Scialfa, Soozie Tyrell, Curtis King and Cindy Mizelle provide backing vocals. Notes: Written by Chris Bailey, frontman of Australian band The Saints and first released in 1986 on their album //All Fools Day//. Springsteen premiered his cover of "Just Like Fire Would" on March 14, 2013 at Brisbane Entertainment Centre in Brisbane, Australia. Recorded in March 2013 at Studios 301 in Sydney, Australia with the extended E Street Band during the Australian leg of the Wrecking Ball Tour. Produced by Ron Aniello and Springsteen. Musician credits: Springsteen (vocals, guitar), Roy Bittan (piano), Nils Lofgren (guitar), Garry Tallent (bass), Max Weinberg (drums), Steve Van Zandt (backing vocals), Patti Scialfa (backing vocals), Tom Morello (guitar), Charlie Giordano (organ), Ron Aniello (12 string guitar) and Everett Bradley (percussion, backing vocals). Horn section: Jake Clemons, Barry Danielian, Clark Gayton, Ed Manion and Curt Ramm and Jeff Kievit (piccolo trumpet). Curtis King, Cindy Mizelle and Michelle Moore provide backing vocals. Strings are provided by the New York Chamber Consort and arranged and conducted by Rob Mathes. Lisa Kim is the choirmaster. Violins by Quan Ge, Hyunju Lee, Jessica Lee, Ann Lehman, Joanna Mauer, Suzanne Ornstein, Annaliesa Place, David Southorn, Jeanine Wynton and Sharon Yamada. Violas: Maurycy Banaszek, Desiree Elsevier, Shmuel Katz and Robert Rinehart. Celli: Maria Kitsopoulos, Alan Stepansky and Ru Pei Yeh. Notes: Produced by Brendan O'Brien. Identified in a December 2013 //Rolling Stone// article as recorded during sessions for //The Rising//. Features Clarence Clemons on tenor saxophone, Danny Federici on organ, Patti Scialfa (backing vocals), Garry Tallent (bass), Max Weinberg (drums) and Soozie Tyrell (violin). Springsteen's children Evan, Jess, and Sam provide backing vocals. Notes: With Tom Morello. Produced by Springsteen, Aniello and O'Brien, suggesting this recording (at least in part) dates from 2004-2008, perhaps most likely 2007 during the recording sessions for //Magic//. Aniello has stated that the original basic track (vocals, drum and bass) was used, and 2013 overdubs completed the song. Musician credits are Springsteen (vocals, guitar, additional bass, percussion loop, organ, synth), Patti Scialfa (backing vocals), Garry Tallent (bass), Max Weinberg (drums), Tom Morello (lead guitar), Soozie Tyrell (backing vocals), Ron Aniello (percussion loop), synth, farfisa organ), Sessions Band violinist Sam Bardfeld, Everett Bradley (percussion). Backing vocals by Tawatha Agee, Keith Fluitt, Curtis King, John James, Cindy Mizelle, Al Thornton and Brenda White. Strings are provided by the New York Chamber Consort and arranged and conducted by Rob Mathes. Lisa Kim is the choirmaster. Violins by Quan Ge, Hyunju Lee, Jessica Lee, Ann Lehman, Joanna Mauer, Suzanne Ornstein, Annaliesa Place, David Southorn, Jeanine Wynton and Sharon Yamada. Violas: Maurycy Banaszek, Desiree Elsevier, Shmuel Katz and Robert Rinehart. Celli: Maria Kitsopoulos, Alan Stepansky and Ru Pei Yeh. Notes: Produced by Ron Aniello and Springsteen. Features Sessions Band violinist Sam Bardfeld. Springsteen has stated the song was originally recorded for //Magic//, and partially re-recorded for //High Hopes//. However, studio footage appears to date the cut from 2008, during sessions for //Working On A Dream//. Drums, bass and Van Zandt's contribution are all new. Musician credits are Springsteen (vocals, guitar, percussion, organ, mandolin), Roy Bittan (piano), Steve Van Zandt (backing vocals), Max Weinberg (drums), Ron Aniello (bass, guitar) and the aforementioned Sam Bardfeld (violin). Notes: Produced by Ron Aniello and Springsteen. Song features Springsteen on guitar, synths, mandolin, banjo and piano. Roy Bittan on piano and organ, Patti Scialfa, Steve Van Zandt and Soozie Tyrell contribute backing vocals. Ron Aniello on bass, guitar and synth. Cillian Vallely contributes uilleann pipes and hi & lo whistle. Session musician Josh Freese plays drums since Max Weinberg was busy on tour. Also features Sessions Band violinist Sam Bardfeld. Notes: With Tom Morello. Produced by Brendan O'Brien, suggesting this recording dates from 2004-2008, presumably with a Morello overdub. Morello has stated in an interview that he heard O'Brien tinkering with a recording of "Hunter" in 2007 or 2008, but this doesn't necessarily prove it was recorded at that time. Musicians credited are Springsteen on vocals and guitar, Garry Tallent on bass, Max Weinberg on drums, Tom Morello on guitar and Soozie Tyrell on additional violin. Atlanta Strings: Ed Horst provides the string arrangement and conducts. Violins by Justin Bruns, Jay Christy, Sheela Iyengar, John Meisner, Christopher Pulgram, William Pu, Olga Shpitko and Kenn Wagner. Violas by Amy Chang, Tania Maxwell, Lachlan McBane. Celli by Karen Freer, Charae Krueger and Daniel Laufer. Notes: The solo acoustic version was originally released on 1995's //The Ghost Of Tom Joad//. The full-band re-arrangement was premiered live on April 7, 2008 in Anaheim, CA, performed with Tom Morello. Recorded in March 2013 in Los Angeles, the day before a flight to Australia for the Australian leg of the Wrecking Ball Tour. Produced by Ron Aniello and Springsteen. Musician credits are Springsteen (lead vocal, guitar), Roy Bittan (piano), Nils Lofgren (pedal steel, mandolin), Max Weinberg (drums), Tom Morello (lead vocal, guitar), Soozie Tyrell (violin), Charlie Giordano (accordion) and Ron Aniello (bass, synth). Notes: Written December 1997-January 1998. The title and idea came from Joe Grushecky and the lyrics were written by Springsteen after he and Patti Scialfa visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington. Premiered live at Somerville Theatre in Somerville, MA on February 19, 2003. Bruce prefaced the performance by mentioning that he'd visited the Vietnam Memorial in December 1997 and that several days later Grushecky sent Bruce a newspaper clipping about the Memorial. //High Hopes// recording dates from the late 90s (perhaps from sessions for //Tracks//) with the E Street Band, including Danny Federici. Played twice during 2005's Devils & Dust Tour. Produced by Ron Aniello and Springsteen. Musician credits: Springsteen (vocals, guitar, drums), Roy Bittan (piano), Danny Federici (organ), Nils Lofgren (guitar), Patti Scialfa (backing vocals), Garry Tallent (bass), Max Weinberg (percussion), Ron Aniello (synths, accordion) and Curt Ramm (cornet). Notes: Composed by Alan Vega and Martin Rev of Suicide. Springsteen premiered his version during 2005's Devils & Dust Tour, always performed as the final song of the show. Recorded in 2013 with Tom Morello. Aniello has stated that Springsteen made around ten recordings before settling on the final take. First released on October 10, 2013 as soundtrack to a video commemorating the Wrecking Ball Tour which concluded on September 21, 2013. Produced by Ron Aniello and Springsteen. Musician credits: Springsteen (vocal, harmonium, piano, mandolin, synth and acoustic guitar), Roy Bittan (piano), Tom Morello (guitar), Ron Aniello (percussion, loops, synths, bass, guitar). Horn section: Barry Danielian, Clark Gayton, Stan Harrison, Ed Manion and Curt Ramm. Strings are provided by the New York Chamber Consort and arranged and conducted by Rob Mathes. Lisa Kim is the choirmaster. Violins by Quan Ge, Hyunju Lee, Jessica Lee, Ann Lehman, Joanna Mauer, Suzanne Ornstein, Annaliesa Place, David Southorn, Jeanine Wynton and Sharon Yamada. Violas: Maurycy Banaszek, Desiree Elsevier, Shmuel Katz and Robert Rinehart. Celli: Maria Kitsopoulos, Alan Stepansky and Ru Pei Yeh. Notes: One of several tracks considered for the album but ultimately rejected. Notes: One of several tracks considered for the album but ultimately rejected. Issued on the four-track 12" vinyl EP //American Beauty//, released April 19, 2014 in association with Record Store Day and digitally on April 22, 2014. The presence of Patrick Warren and lyrical content suggests this recording (or at least part of it) emanates from the //Magic// sessions. Musician credits: Springsteen (lead vocal, guitars, organ, percussion), Max Weinberg (drums), Garry Tallent (bass), Roy Bittan (piano), Soozie Tyrell (fiddle), Nils Lofgren (guitars, pedal steel), Patti Scialfa (backing vocal), Patrick Warren (keyboards). Notes: One of several tracks considered for the album but ultimately rejected. Issued on the four-track 12" vinyl EP //American Beauty//, released April 19, 2014 in association with Record Store Day and digitally on April 22, 2014. Springsteen has stated that it was originally a demo made during the Brendan O'Brien period and was never cut for an album. Musician credits: Springsteen (lead and background vocals, 6 and 12 string acoustic guitar, electric guitar, slide guitar, keyboards, and tambourine), Charlie Giordano (organ), Ron Aniello (bass, additional piano), Josh Freese (drums, timpani). Contains some lines and lyrics that were used in other songs, including "Down in the Hole", "Gypsy Biker", and "Livin' in the Future". Notes: One of several tracks considered for the album but ultimately rejected. Issued on the four-track 12" vinyl EP //American Beauty//, released April 19, 2014 in association with Record Store Day and digitally on April 22, 2014. Musician credits: Springsteen (vocal, guitar, synth, bass, percussion, pump organ), Patti Scialfa (backing vocals), Charlie Giordano (farfisa), Ron Aniello (synth), Songa Lee (violin), Steve Richards (cello), Toby Scott (drum programming), Scott Tibbs (string arrangement and conductor). Notes: One of several tracks considered for the album but ultimately rejected. Issued on the four-track 12" vinyl EP //American Beauty//, released April 19, 2014 in association with Record Store Day and digitally on April 22, 2014. Musician credits: Springsteen (lead and background vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, bass, keyboards, glockenspiel, percussion, piano), and Josh Freese (drums).

Part Three - High Hopes Studio locations

No less than sixteen recording studios were used in the making of //High Hopes//:

Thrill Hill Recording, NJ Stone Hill Studio (Springsteen's home studio in Colts Neck, NJ) Very Loud House, Los Angeles Renegade Studio, New York City Veritas Studio, Los Angeles Southern Tracks, Atlanta East West Studios, Los Angeles NRG Studios, Los Angeles Village Studios, Los Angeles Studios 301, Byron Bay and Sydney, Australia Record Plant, Los Angeles Electric Lady Studios, New York City Avatar Studios, New York City Sear Sound, New York City Berkeley Street Studio, Santa Monica

Part Four - External links

Rolling Stone - Bruce Springsteen on 'Anomaly' of New Album 'High Hopes' Rolling Stone - A 54-minute conversation with Bruce Springsteen Rolling Stone - Bruce Springsteen Producer Breaks Down 'High Hopes' Rolling Stone - Tom Morello: 'Springsteen Concerts Are Orthopedically Exhausting' NPR - A Long Road To 'High Hopes': An Interview With Bruce Springsteen

Page last edited by {$revisioneditor} on {$revisiondate} include component="page" page="footnote_2"